Who's your favorite knifemaker and why?

My favorite ( for the moment ) is Roger Linger.
It was love at first sight when I saw his bushcraft knife. Had to wipe the drool off the keyboard. I also like J. Nielson's work.
 
Fuegen, Gallagher, Lake, Newton, and Loveless. All these makers have a leading-edge sense of style and are absolutely uncompromising. You can buy a slow, cheap car and you can buy a fast expensive car, but you can't buy a cheap,fast car. With the makers above, you know what you are getting. You just have to be willing to pay for it. Just my opinion, I understand. Others may have their own legitimate points of view. A good topic to discuss and learn.
 
The argentinians ruben and ariel are nice people and all do a great job,this is from personal dealings, there is way to many knifemakers as far as craftsmanship to mention.
 
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:eek: Wow. This thread was dead for two years and it's back - as it should be.

I have to mention guys like IG and Tom (Mayo) and Jerry (Hossum) - none of whom I've ever met, but they feel like family, sharing not just knifemaking, but also the more important things in life. Thanks guys.

I want to mention a few others.

Ed Storch is a talented knife maker who is always willing to share his knowledge and friendship - even with a cantankerous SOB like me who disagrees with some of his most cherished values. :rolleyes:

Thomas Haslinger - another guy who will share unselfishly - and someday I wanna make knives that nice.

Brian Lyttle - a valuable lesson in self respect - ok self worship :D - but there are a lot of us in the same congregation. He is probably the most talented knife maker in Canada and without a doubt, the most talented I have ever met. I am honoured to benefit from his wisdom and experience.

Terry Mah - told me gently that the mild steel I'd spent dozens of hours on could not be hardened - and then set me on the right path.

Jim Downie - for the supplies - the advice - the shop tours - and the role model.

R.B. Jenkins - for opening my eyes to the world of knives OUTSIDE the walmart store - for letting me skin his deer wih a $10,000 knife - and for not shooting me when I set it down on the concrete floor. :o

Thanks to these and to the others who have shared and modelled what it should mean to be a knife maker.

Rob!
 
Russ Andrews. Mainly, because he's a good friend of mine, and has taught me a LOT about what I know about knives. What little of a knifemaker I am, I owe to him.
 
There's so many to choose from. At first, the most influential to me come to mind. Those names would include Rudy Ruana, Bo Randall, and John Ek. I've admired and collected their knives for years. There's also Sal Glesser of Spyderco. Wow, did he and his company change things when they hit the knife scene!

The title of this thread says favorite, however. I guess that distinction goes to two local Maine knifemakers who I know personally, and who have helped me immensely. Their names are Nick Rossi and Lamont Coombs, Jr. They are two of the most unselfish people you’re ever gonna meet. Both have patiently shared their knowledge, ideas, methods, tools, and most importantly to a knifemaker, their time. They answered a lot of questions, showed me their shops, and taught me their tricks of the trade, helping me on my way to becoming a knifemaker myself. Lamont has also gone out of his way to teach me how to run a knife making business, which is a job in itself. What really strikes me is that BOTH men did this knowing I had very little to offer in return (in fact, I would be competition!). Hats off to those two.
Thank you both,
Scott
 
The first knifemaker I ever knew was Bob Engnath who's shop was right around the corner from where I lived in Glendale at the time. I didn't even know he was famous until I read some books and found him in them. He played a big part in my interest in knifemaking so he's always special. Right now my favorite makers and knives I would like to own are Don Hanson, Daniel Winkler and Joe Flournoy. There's more but they are always on the top of my list.
 
Jerry Hossom, whose grinds inspired me to make knives.

Don Fogg, watching him forge is beyond inspiring.

Jerry Rados and Delbert Ealy, because both of them spent time with me when I thought for sure they'd just blow me off.

IG, because he's a talented degenerate!

Jim Siska, who took my grinding from worthless to hopeful in under a half hour.

Kevin Cashen, for being patient with me when I wasn't (and maybe still aren't!) getting it.

Darren Ellis, whose assistance with forge design and supplies actually made it happen!

Most importantly, Mace Vitale. He might even be unaware of it, but I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. It was Mace that brought me into forging (and I'm trying, man!), and it's been Mace that's been forced to handle all my goofy questions -- all with the patience of Job, and always with understanding and insight.

I know the list is long, and not everyone qualifies as 'knifemaker' (whatever that may mean), but this is the only easy way to answer this question, to me.
 
Without a doubt my favorite maker is Gil Hibben. His knives are what got me into collecting knives in the first place and since then he has taught me to make knives. He has been a true brother to me and shared his vast knowledge of metalworking and knifemaking. There is no substitute for 50 years of knifemaking experience. I happen to love his art knives and admire the creativity, skill and craftsmanship required to make them but even if you don't like art knives, his hunters, bowies and folders are of a quality second to none in my opinion.

There are many, many other outstanding knifemakers out there but another whose work always catches my eye is Ron Best and it amazing integral work.
 
Chiro75 said:
Here's a question that's fun to ask people who make knives. So, who's your favorite maker, and why? I love knives (duh) so it's hard to pick, but I think if I had to choose I would have to say Fred Perrin, not because of his technical ability to make knives, but simply because of the whole package. He has his own style, he is an experienced knife user, his knives are innovative and some are downright weird but they all do the job. His knives have a lot of "soul" to them. Anyway, so he gets my vote for my favorite knife maker. Who's yours?
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Hey Little Stevie, you're my fave knife maker because I could buy a knife from you and get a spinal adjustment too. :rolleyes:
 
My uncle Kelly Dallyn, who first got me interested in making and picked my work apart for years saying things like "you're at least a couple degrees off" or "you're at least a couple thousandths out" (damn machinists):D . And did it ever feel good to finally get to the point where he couldn't find flaws. He let me use his machines for years, lent me books and tools, and always had time to "look over" something I'd made. He's not that well known, but if anyone would like, some of his stuff is on bladegallery.
 
Don Hanson, Bill Buxton and Karl Anderson.... because they are quality guys with amazing talent, who take the time to share and remember remember the new guys.... thinking of them and/or seeing and holding their knives brings me inspiration and a smile.... doesn't get any better than that....

There are certainly others for sure.... but these guys stand out right now in my mind.....

Thanks guys!
 
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